Title:Benefits of L-Arginine on Cardiovascular System
VOLUME: 16 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Emina Sudar-Milovanovic, Milan Obradovic, Aleksandra Jovanovic, Bozidarka Zaric, Sonja Zafirovic, Anastasija Panic, Djordje Radak and Esma R. Isenovic
Affiliation:Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca, University of Belgrade, Laboratory of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, P.O. Box 522, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Keywords:Amino acid, Arginase, cardiovascular system, cardiovascular disorders, L-Arg, NO, NOS.
Abstract:The amino acid, L-Arginine (L-Arg) plays an important role in the cardiovascular system.
Data from the literature show that L-Arg is the only substrate for the production of nitric oxide (NO),
from which L-Arg develops its effects on the cardiovascular system. As a free radical, NO is
synthesized in all mammalian cells by L-Arg with the activity of NO synthase (NOS). In states of
hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and vascular inflammation a disorder occurs in the metabolic pathway of the
synthesis of NO from L-Arg which all together bring alterations of blood vessels. Experimental results obtained on
animals, as well as clinical studies show that L-Arg has an effect on thrombocytes, on the process of coagulation and on
the fibrolytic system. This mini review represents a summary of the latest scientific animal and human studies related to
L-Arg and its mechanisms of actions with a focus on the role of L-Arg via NO pathway in cardiovascular disorders.
Moreover, here we present data from recent animal and clinical studies suggesting that L-Arg could be one of the possible
therapeutic molecules for improving the treatment of different cardiovascular disorders.
